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Tet

30 January 1968

Poster Vietnam, 1967

Source:

BG E 10/477

Tet, 30 January, is a Vietnamese holiday. This is why the Americans during the Vietnam War were not prepared for the massive offensive that the Vietcong started on this day in 1968. The Tet offensive lasted until 25 February. It did not bring victory to the Vietcong, but did result in a turning point in American thoughts about the war. In 1968 14,000 American soldiers lost their life in Vietnam. Support for president Johnson's policy diminished, and the idea of withdrawing troops was no longer unbearable. American bombing of North Vietnam became less intense.